France Arrests 4 in Terrorism : Surveillance Stepped Up Despite Paris Calm

Police today arrested four French nationals suspected of terrorism and linked to the left-wing Direct Action terrorist group.

Under France’s anti-terrorism laws, the four can be held for four days pending charges. Officials, who declined to identify the suspects or give further details, said they are friends of a Direct Action leader, Frederic Oriach.

Officials did not say whether they are being held in connection with a wave of bombing attacks in Paris.

The Sept. 8-17 bombings claimed nine lives and more than 150 wounded, throwing France into a state of tension. Police surveillance of the capital was stepped up for what is feared is a lull in attacks claimed by groups seeking the release of a jailed Lebanese and two other convicted Mideast terrorists.

The arrests came as Premier Jacques Chirac, speaking at the United Nations, today called for increased international cooperation in fighting terrorism.

Addressing the 41st General Assembly, he condemned states “willing to close their eyes to terrorist organizations’ activities or that do not hesitate to use them to their own advantage and even actually encourage them.”